Unusual Surface Latent Heat Flux Variations and Their Critical Dynamics Revealed before Strong Earthquakes

We focus on the possible thermal channel of the well-known Lithosphere–Atmosphere–Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) mechanism to identify the behavior of thermal anomalies during and prior to strong seismic events. For this, we investigate the variation of Surface Latent Heat Flux (SLHF) as resulting from satellite observables. We demonstrate a spatio-temporal variation in the SLHF before and after a set of strong seismic events occurred in Kathmandu, Nepal, and Kumamoto, Japan, having magnitudes of 7.8, 7.3, and 7.0, respectively. Before the studied earthquake cases, significant enhancements in the SLHF were identified near the epicenters. Additionally, in order to check whether critical dynamics, as the signature of a complex phenomenon such as earthquake preparation, are reflected in the SLHF data, we performed a criticality analysis using the natural time analysis method. The approach to criticality was detected within one week before each mainshock.     

Electro‐optical cells using a cellulose derivative and cholesteric liquid crystals

A cellulose derivative/liquid crystal composite‐type electro‐optical cell using a commercial cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) was investigated. The electro‐optical properties of the system were examined, i.e. the dependence on applied voltage of the reflected wavelength and the minimum and maximum transmissions. A thin film of the CLC was dispersed with a cross‐linked cellulose film of 25 µm thickness. In the voltage dependence of the reflected wavelength it was verified that there is a hysteresis in the reflected wavelength. The variation of the reflected wavelength with temperature was also determined. The results are analysed in the framework of similar systems described in the literature for CLC dispersed in a polymer matrix.     

Factors that influence the tribo-charging of insulating ducts in suction-type dilute-phase pneumatic transport systems

The aim of this study is to refine the understanding of the tribo-electrostatic phenomena that can affect the efficiency of suction-type dilute-phase transport systems. The study was conducted with mm-size ABS-PC particles, a granular material originating from genuine information technology wastes. The tribo-charging process was modelled using the response surface method of experimental design. The controlled variables were the granular material feed rate and the aspirating air speed rate. The monitored variable was the charge imparted to a well-defined section of the duct and which is equal to the charge transferred to the particles passing through that section of the pneumatic transport system. An induction type sensor connected to an electrometer has been employed for the measurements. The data were processed by a virtual instrument developed in LabView. A commercial software package was employed for estimating the effects of the various factors and predicting the optimum operating conditions, which were then confirmed by a final experiment.     

Magnesium-induced regiospecific C-silylation of suitably substituted enoates and dienoates

The β-aryl-β-silyl and β,β-disilyl propionates have been synthesized from cinnamates and β-silyl acrylates by a regiospecific reductive C-silylation using Mg/silyl chloride/DMF system at room temperature. These reductive C-silylation conditions have also been applied to δ-aryl substituted dienoates wherein silylation took place at the δ-position leading to the synthesis of single regioisomeric allylsilanes with very high stereoselectivity.     

A study of self-quenching of lyoluminescence yield from gamma-irradiated saccharides and amino acids

Tissue equivalent (TE) lyoluminescence (LL) dosimetry requires practical amount of phosphor for dissolution, typically 5-30 mg. Pronounced mass quenching effect has been observed even in the region of 5 mg, in the cases of LL of lactose-monohydrate, d-glucose, d-mannose, raffinose, sucrose and 1-glutamine. Ordinary concentration-quenching is non-existent but yield per mg falls rapidly with increasing mass of the phosphor. The curves have been fitted with a self-absorption type formula. A well-recognised dose effect is present in quenching curves. The role of free radicals at high radiation doses has been discussed in the contribution of dose effect in quenching.     

Stereospecific peptide folds. A rationally designed molecular bracelet

A canonical planar beta-hairpin peptide, stereochemically reengineered into a semicircular bracelet type motif by L-to-D stereochemical inversion in two pairs of its cross-strand neighbor residues, displays protein like ordering including two-state behavior in H2O, which is unusual for a small peptide of this size.